5 Ways to Enjoy Halloween with Your Dog

It’s Halloween time again! Time for pumpkins, costumes, and lots of candy. As we enjoy the Halloween season we want to include our furry best friend in all the fun.

1. Dressing Up Should be Fun for Everyone

We all want that perfect photo of our pet dressed up in an adorable costume, but it may not be as much fun for your dog. Watch for signs of anxiety or fear. If they begin to shake or tug at the costume, they can hurt themselves. Keep a close eye on your pet while dressed up. Only dress your pet up if they are enjoying it as much as you!

2. Everyone Loves Halloween Candy, right?

Fall time is the perfect time to enjoy your favorite candy but be careful before you share your favorite treat with your pet. Some foods are not safe for dog consumption and can make your dog very sick. We all know chocolate is bad for dogs. Sugar, and even sugar substitutes, can cause tummy troubles in dogs. Its best to keep your dog away from sweets. Even healthy treats like grapes and raisins are dangerous for dogs.

3. Be Careful with Decorations

Halloween Decorations

Fake spider webs, cornstalks, and pumpkins make for great decorations, but when ingested by a curious pet can cause serious stomach upset. Pureed pumpkin with no added sugar can be great for your dog’s digestive health, but pumpkins that have sat outside can be a source of unsafe bacteria and rot very quickly making them unsafe to eat. Lit jack-o-lanterns can quickly become a fire hazard and should always be kept where your dog won’t be able to knock it over.

4. Keep Your Pet Safe

You’ll be having a lot of visitors at your door on Halloween, seeing strangers dressed up may be intimidating or scary for your pet. The SPCA reports that the day after Halloween is their busiest day for lost dogs coming to their shelter. To avoid stress and the danger of your dog bolting outside and getting lost, use a pet gate at the front door to keep your pet safe. A dog gate is perfect for trick-or-treating, it will still allow you to answer the door for our ghost or goblin who rings the doorbell while providing a barrier to keep your pet safely inside.

If you plan on taking your dog with you when you go door to door, always be cautious of your surroundings. Your dog should always be leashed to keep them safely by their side, and make sure that they can be seen. For dogs in wheelchairs, attaching lights or even a flag to their Walkin’ Wheels wheelchair will make them easier to see and help keep them safe.

The Walkin’ Light is an easy way to ensure your pet’s safety at night.